College Prep Guide Spring 2019

College prep guide 2019

Demystifying the

college

applicat appli application cation ion process STEVE ROSEN

N

Tribune Content Agency

ot every family can afford to shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars to hire a college counselor to steer their high school senior through the college admissions pro-

cess.

College counselors are in drastically short supply at many high schools. No wonder many parents and students are overwhelmed by the college application process and are ready to give up before even starting.

That’s where a new partnership between Collegewise, which is one of the nation’s largest college counseling organizations, and a non-profit started by former first lady Michelle Obama hopes to lend a hand.

Reach Higher, which was launched during Obama’s time at the White House, and Collegewise recently introduced their first collaborative effort, an online tool aimed

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at high school students, their parents and high school counselors.

“How to Make Your Common App a Lot Less Common” is filled with 60 pages of resources to walk students step-by-step through the completion of the Common Application, which is required by most colleges and universities. The online program also offers advice on navigating the standardized testing process and the crafting of polished essays.

Presented in a smooth, thoughtful way, the overriding goal of the online resource is to make sure students are “proud of what you’re putting out there” on a college application, said Arun Ponusammy, Collegewise’s chief academic officer and the guidebook’s editor.

Collegewise has pledged $1 million to Reach Higher over five years to support the effort, including a social media campaign and the release of other online tools such as applying for financial aid.

Collegewise says it has helped more than 10,000 students through the college

admissions process since its founding in 1999. It has been offering the online Common App resource for about six years, said Ponusammy, but it was revised to better mesh with Reach Higher’s mission of helping low-income students and those who may be the first in their family to attend college.

The guide covers everything from what students are advised to answer if they’ve already taken college courses but weren’t happy with their grades to how to answer questions about any school disciplinary actions against them.

Perhaps most helpful is a section devoted to how to write the college application essay for each of the seven choices on this year’s application.

Rebecca Brewer said finding good resources to demystify every step of the college application process is a big issue for families, especially with no prior college experience.

The Maryland woman wrote in an email to me that neither the high school nor a

nearby community college were of much help in providing answers about admissions and financial aid for her daughter, who graduated from high school in June of 2018.

“My daughter attended a Christian school where they pushed the kids toward a Christian college in Florida,” Brewer said. “If any student had no plans to go to that college, they did nothing to prepare those kids for college elsewhere.”

She said a community college wasn’t much help either. “It was as though they assumed I had all the answers I needed.”

Fortunately, she added, “a kind lady in the cashier’s office explained a load of things that I hadn’t even thought of, and even the advisor didn’t bring up to us.”

Her takeaway: There should be resources, such as a class or booklet “to help parents who do not have all the answers, especially parents like me who have never been to college.”

There’s now a new online tool that aims to do just that.

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March 2019

3

Help for your

budget-averse et-averse college student

STEVE ROSEN

Tribune Content Agency

Going to college and living independently can sometimes bring out the worst in the way our kids manage money.

Think concert tickets, late-night pizza orders, overdosing on cellphone minutes and shopping sprees as a reward for surviving a stressful week.

Any or all of the above can wreak havoc on your son or daughter’s bank account.

That’s when budgeting, or a spending program, if you will, can come to the rescue.

There are an overwhelming number of choices when it comes to online tools and apps, and they provide varying levels of budget help.

Some budgeting tools provide a good experience on a laptop, but not all offer a smooth option on the mobile device that fits in your pocket.

I still like starting out young adults with the old-school pencil and paper method to track their spending. It takes maybe an hour or so during the week to jot down where every dollar was spent.

Input the data on the income and outflow sides of the ledger and think about the numbers — that’s it.

“Even doing that little (or much) would go a long way toward better financial health for many,” said Susan Beacham, a financial education expert and the chief executive of Money Savvy Generation. “Start simple, and see where that takes you first.”

But if you want to try a more sophisticated approach, here are a few online budgeting tools.

YNAB

This stands for “You Need A Budget,” and it was created by a couple of college students in 2004.

The budgeting program is based on four rules: Decide what you want your money to do before you spend it; break up larger, less frequent expenses into monthly bills; change your budget as necessary; and only spend money that is at least 30 days’ old.

The tool was recently the top budgeting software pick of the product testers at Wirecutter, a New York Times company. The testers researched more than 50 budgeting tools.

YNAB offers a 34-day free test run, though Wirecutter says that’s now being extended to three months. After that, the cost is $6.99 a month.

What do you get for the service? Bank and credit card syncing, debt down-payment assistance, goal tracking, and other help.

Here’s what the Wirecutter testers had to say:

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YNAB’s “guided setup helps you create an effective budget and (it) helps you stick to it more than anything else we tried.”

Mint

This budgeting tool has been around for a long time. Mint is free, and like many programs, it allows you to link your bank accounts and credit cards to keep track of your expenses. You can add categories to your budget and monitor it with notifications when bills are due.

Digit

The Digit app connects to your bank accounts and uses an algorithm to alert you to how much you can afford to save, given your spending habits. The app shifts money from your checking account to your savings every few days. If Digit doesn’t think you can afford to move anything to savings, it won’t.

Digit is free for 30 days, then it’s $2.99 per month.

EveryDollar

This free site is financial planning guru Dave Ramsey’s budgeting tool.

E ve r y D o l l a r preaches simplicity, taking about 10 minutes to create your budget. The site also comes with email support. If you want more, consider EveryDollar Plus, which costs $99 a year and gives you the option to speak to a real person for money management questions.

Wally

Users describe this as a barebones budgeting app for people who just want a quick look at how much they have to spend overall and where every dollar is going.

COMBAT FRESHMAN

FAUX-PAS WITH THESE FIVE TIPS LEE SHULMAN BIERER

The Charlotte Observer‌

‌It’s easy to be overwhelmed as a freshman. Everything is new, it feels like you’re making first impressions every minute of every day, you’ve gotten lost six times returning to your dorm from the library, you’re intimidated by the course syllabus (“Do they really expect you to read 1,000 pages a week?”), and you think you’re the only one who feels this way.

You’re wrong. Just look around: Every other freshman is stressed out, too. Transitions are tough.

Here are some tips to make your adjustment a little smoother:

1

Register for the best classes for YOU. Make smart choices based on what you think you’ll like and, yes, your body clock.

Don’t sign up for the 8 a.m. classes if you know that waking up and arriving on time is going to stress you out. Don’t listen to and do what everyone else is doing. Even if you placed out of Bio 101 and Bio 102, you may want to think twice before signing up for Bio 201. General advice is to take a lighter load first semester. Pick classes that interest you and hopefully satisfy some requirements but won’t overload you. Don’t forget you’re going to want to get involved in extracurricular clubs and organizations on campus. It’s challenging to be a happy freshman if you’re feeling like you can’t keep pace academically.

2

Shop around before you make purchases. Save a little money on the things that don’t matter as much. Remem

ber: You’re paying for convenience when you shop at the college bookstore. Check out online options and what’s in the surrounding area.

3

Strike a balance. It’s impossible to pledge a sorority or fraternity AND play a varsity sport AND have an internship AND have a part-time job AND go home every other weekend. Figure out what’s most important to you and prioritize your activities. Accept that you won’t be able to do everything you want to do that first semester.

4

Be responsible socially. Enjoy your independence with no curfews and few rules, but staying up late every night, skipping classes and not doing your homework will land you back in your parents’ home faster than you’ll get an “ahh” watching a cat video.

5

Appreciate the transition. Accept the fact that all freshmen will be homesick at one time or another. Recognize that everyone deals with change differently. Some of your friends may be very emotional and feel the need to share every miserable detail, and others will be frighteningly stoic.

Don’t be afraid to bring up the subject and share your own thoughts, because the odds are it will end up being a bonding experience.

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Lee Shulman Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte, N.C. Visit her website College Admissions Strategies.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. March 2019

5

Lay the

ground rules for student

credit card

STEVE ROSEN

Y

Tribune Content Agency

our college-bound freshman needs a starter credit card to cover emergencies, plane tickets home and textbooks.

What are your options?

What should you look for? And what ground rules do you intend to put in place because you want the plastic to be used minimally?

A lot of improvements have been made in the way credit cards can be marketed to college students, thanks to the Credit Card Act of 2009. College students can no longer be bombarded by card issuers with T-shirts, drink holders and other come-ons to entice them to sign up for a card the moment they set foot on campus.

Credit card issuers also cannot market within 1,000 feet of the campus main gate, and students under the age of 21 have a harder time getting a standard card on

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their own.

That said, it is generally a good idea for your college freshman to carry one piece of plastic to deal with the unexpected.

Many card companies allow parents to act as co-signers on an application, which will help him or her to build a credit history. This is better than just adding your student to your own card as an authorized user, where he or she rides on your good credit record.

Banks typically will require the new cardholder to show proof of income, such as money earned from a part-time or fulltime job, or even money regularly deposited by you into your child’s bank account.

Many parents turn to a secured credit card for their student, which requires a security deposit that essentially becomes your line of credit. Because you can’t charge beyond the amount of the deposit, this could be a good choice if you’re concerned your student’s idea of an emergency is three large

pizzas at midnight.

Discover, Capital One, Citi and others have secured cards targeted at students.

They generally come with low or no annual fees, and offer rewards programs or cashback deals for dining out, entertainment, gasoline and shopping through Amazon and other online merchants.

If you think you can do better than your own bank’s credit card offers, check out comparison sites such as LowCards.com, CreditCards.com, Credit Karma and NerdWallet.

What should you look for?

Stick with credits cards that don’t require you to pay an annual fee for the privilege of using the plastic.

With identity theft so prevalent, many card companies now offer free credit scores and monitoring services so you’re immediately alerted if there’s trouble with the account. Many starter cards for students also offer cash bonuses or credits on your

balance for good grades.

If your student will be traveling abroad during this school year, consider cards that don’t charge transaction fees — typically around 3 percent of a transaction — on purchases made in a foreign currency.

Be wary of appealing introductory terms, for example, zero percent interest on balances for the first six months. From my perspective, if you are just starting out with a credit card and are unable from the getgo to pay the monthly balance in full, you shouldn’t have a card in the first place.

And even if your student pays the monthly credit card bill online, the statement still needs to be scrutinized for mistakes.

Don’t let your student leave for school without going over the ground rules. Purchases must be paid in full every month and on time, and failure to do so means the plastic goes on ice.

And be sure to clarify what constitutes an emergency and what doesn’t.

Staying healthy on campus LEE SHULMAN BIERER

The Charlotte Observer‌

‌They’re gone. All summer long you worried about their dorm room, what classes they’d take, how they’d adjust socially, if they will run out of money, if they will be homesick, etc. Guess what?

They’re fine!

The one thing that most parents forget to talk to their children about as they take their first steps as freshmen on their college campus is how to stay healthy. Being sick at college is no fun because it means missing classes and social events and then catching up on work. Maintaining their physical health as well as their mental health is as likely to determine their happiness and success as anything else.

Here are a few tips on how students can stay healthy at college. There probably aren’t going to be any huge surprises here. It’s common sense. But unfortunately, that is often in short supply for 18- to 22-year-olds.

Wash your hands. Yes, the easiest way

to prevent catching colds from roommates and friends is to be vigilant about hand-washing. There is no need to be a germophobe, but it does make sense to wash before eating and to carry a small container of hand-sanitizer.

Drink water. Coffee may wake you up, but water will keep you going. Substitute at least one glass of water for a cup of coffee each day. Or, better yet, drink a cup of water for every cup of coffee you consume daily. You will feel better. Just carry a water bottle in your backpack and fill it up regularly.

Refuel with healthy snacks. Sometimes students’ schedules prevent them from having “normal” meals at “normal” times. Carry some healthy snacks (granola bars, dried fruit, etc.) that will tide you over until your next meal.

Don’t fill up on fried foods. It’s so easy, and tasty, to take advantage of fast-food offerings in the dining hall or in the area surrounding the college campus. Focus instead on a few healthy items that you

way to run down your body is to not provide sufficient nourishment through food, water and sleep. There’s so much to do, so many people to hang with, but you’ll miss out on all of it if you get sick. Sleep is the single most underrated commodity on college campuses.

Be social. Don’t hibernate. Strike a balance between your academic life and your social life.

Check out student services. Every campus offers academic support as well as mental health services. Thankfully, much of the stigma of seeing a counselor/therapist has dissipated, and students are more willing to get help sooner. Unfortunately, many students wait until they are very unhappy, and then the road to recovery is longer. like and make sure you have at least three fresh/non-processed foods each day.

Track your sleep. Staying up late and then getting up early for class the next day works for about one night. The quickest

Lee Shulman Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte, N.C. Visit her website College Admissions Strategies. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Make the essay memorable and avoid

CRINGE-WORTHY

MISTAKES LEE SHULMAN BIERER

The Charlotte Observer‌

‌Many high school seniors find themselves paralyzed with fear, afraid to put their fingers to the keyboard. They’ve convinced themselves that the quality of their college essay will determine the rest of their lives. For starters, let’s all take a deep breath and recognize that this isn’t true.

But of course there’s a “but”: The essay is important and can often be a key factor as college admissions officers review applications.

What makes an essay memorable? I asked Greg Zaiser, vice president of admissions and financial planning at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina, for his thoughts.

“The best essays are the ones where I learn something new about the applicant or I learn about their true passion,” Zaiser said. “I like when we get to hear a story that has nothing to do with their résumé and more to do with their home life.

“The most memorable essay I’ve ever read was one written by an applicant who described her brother’s special needs. Instead of taking a path I expected, she revealed that he embarrassed her and that she found herself trying to keep her friends from meeting him. Even today, as I read it, I get chills. It was raw, real, completely uncomfortable and incredibly authentic.

Risky? Perhaps. But it stood out because she was real.

“Another essay that I recall being stylistically memorable was the student who used the dents on his truck as a metaphor for this life challenges. It personalized the experience in a way that wouldn’t have otherwise worked.”

What are some of the most common blunders students make?

No. 1: Using clichés. Clichés are phrases and expressions that are so overused that they’ve become annoying. The problem is that they often “feel right” because they concisely communicate a writer’s message. But clichés signal to an admissions officer that the student didn’t care suffi-

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March 2019

ciently to make the phrase original. Avoid common college essay clichés such as “expanding my horizons,” “the big picture” and “thinking outside the box.”

When editing your essay, question any comparison or image you’ve used. Clichés can sneak in when we try to be descriptive. Ask yourself if the phrase is one that you’ve heard frequently on television or in casual conversation. Forgo the familiar and be creative. But beware: If you use the thesaurus, make sure the word you choose makes sense.

No. 2: Plagiarizing. There are so many books and internet resources with “successful essays” that it often too tempting for lazy students to simply copy and paste someone else’s work. Plagiarizing is the easiest way to guarantee a rejection. Colleges are aware of this unfortunate trend and many now use software to weed out the offenders.

No. 3: Using vague language. The worst essays to read are the ones that are generic and vague.

My mantra to my students is to err on the side of specificity. When students don’t know what to say, they often write in platitudes that sound meaningless. This is particularly true when students are responding to the “Why this college?” essay. Colleges are looking for applicants who can articulate specifically why a college is a good fit for them. So, when students choose to talk about attending football games or being part of Greek life on campus, they really aren’t doing anything to set themselves apart from other applicants, and that kind of essay will hurt their chances.

Essay topics to avoid

As an independent college counselor who has read thousands of essays, and after conducting research on bad essay choices, my vote for the two biggest essay offenders goes to: the last-minute sports victory and the mission-trip epiphany.

These two topics tend to be among the worst subjects for essays, because unless a student has a particularly inspiring, amus-

ing or heartfelt story, colleges have seen it all, heard it all and read it all thousands of times before.

While winning a sports championship may be the pinnacle of your high school career, it is very difficult to get anyone else nearly as excited. Unless a student personalizes the sports essay with a meaningful anecdote, it is likely to focus on the importance of teamwork and sound cliché.

The mission trip epiphany is a regularly mentioned topic to avoid that you probably heard about during your college visits. There’s almost always a parent at these visits who asks, “What should their essays be about?” Admissions staff are often quick to suggest that it is challenging to set yourself apart if you choose this topic.

No one is saying that mission trips aren’t a great experience and an opportunity for teens to be exposed to new things, but be cautious about using one as a college essay topic.

The problem is that the realizations students choose to share — for instance: “While on the outside we may look different, I realized after this trip that underneath, on the inside, we are really all the same” — often unwittingly demonstrate how sheltered their existence has been and perhaps how privileged a life they’ve led.

Here are two other topics that I suggest you avoid:

The confessional. Many students choose to use Common Application (www.commonapp.org) Prompt No. 2 — “The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

— to dredge up their past misdeeds. This prompt is a little softer and more politically correct . In past years it was referred to as the “failure prompt.” Unfortunately, students tend to overshare with too much background information about their indiscretion. They present themselves in a negative light and then don’t have enough space to share how they’ve changed.

The resume. Don’t waste your precious essay words to share information about yourself that you are providing in another part of the application. Most college applications have an area where you describe your extracurricular activities, your work experience, your awards, etc. Focusing on this information in your essay is repetitive and doesn’t share any new insights about who you are or how you’ll contribute to their college community.

Lee Shulman Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte, N.C. Visit her website College Admissions Strategies.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Remember these safety tips on campus LEE SHULMAN BIERER

The Charlotte Observer‌

‌Unfortunately, gone are the days where parents blithely sent their children off to idyllic college campuses worry-free. Until relatively recently, safety was something that was just mentioned on campus tours, and everyone was satisfied to know that the “blue lights” have an amazingly fast response time from campus security.

But many parents and students are now actively concerned about how colleges handle security issues. This is especially true when something happens to someone they know.

However, most students still assume nothing can go wrong in their “college bubble.” They often get caught up in a false sense of security. But, unfortunately, bad things do happen. Here are some suggestions of ways for students to stay safe on a college campus: Don’t walk alone after dark. Use the campus escort service. If you must walk alone, stay alert, don’t listen to your iPod, and don’t stop at an ATM. Be sure to walk on well-lit paths and

know where the emergency phones are located. Know the number for campus security; plug it into your cellphone.

Keep the cellphone handy so you can make a call, if necessary.

Make sure someone knows where you are at all times. Text when you arrive safely at your destination.

Enter your “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) numbers in your cellphone. ICE is commonly known by security forces, police departments and paramedics.

If something happens, it will speed up contact with your loved ones. Also, know the phone numbers you will need to call to cancel your credit/debit cards if your wallet is stolen.

According to the Parents’ Guide to College Life and a survey done by Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, more than 100,000 property crimes on college campuses are reported to police each year, and thieves make off with an average of $1,250 in stolen student property per theft.

Get a locking device for your laptop.

Ask someone to watch your belongings when you head to the restroom or take

a break at the library.

Lock your dorm room door at all times. People in first-floor dorm rooms should also lock their windows. About 25 percent of all college-age women are victims of rape or attempted rape. Feelings of invincibility by male students lead them to riskier behavior than their common sense would dictate. Approximately 1,700 students die from alcohol-related injuries each year.

Avoid drinking too much. Do not accept a drink from anyone other than a bartender. Date rape drugs are easily slipped into drinks. Never go home with a stranger. Bring enough money to pay for a taxi back to your dorm, if necessary.

Despite these statistics, college campuses are still generally very safe places. Still, the best bet is to be smart and be vigilant.

Lee Shulman Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte, N.C. Visit her website College Admissions Strategies. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Don’t leave free college money on table STEVE ROSEN

Tribune Content Agency‌

Don’t leave money on the table. That’s one of the best pieces of financial advice I’ve received.

For me, that meant taking advantage of employer matching contributions to retirement accounts and stock purchase plans, using every dollar possible for reimbursements on medical flexible spending accounts, and even cashing in credit card rewards points.

Sounds basic enough, yet when it comes to applying for college financial aid, many leave big money on the table — much of it free money that’s not a loan. They either skip the application process altogether or wait until it’s really too late in the game to pursue the $150 billion or so in federal money earmarked for scholarships, grants and loans.

That’s one of the more troubling conclusions from the mid-October release of “How America Pays For College,� a national study conducted by Sallie Mae, the educational financial services company, and its Ipsos research partner. The organizations have been conducting these

studies since 2008.

Their survey, of 1,600 college students and parents of college students, found that 31 percent of the respondents don’t take advantage of early filing opportunities of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid during the October to December timeframe.

The FAFSA, available at fafsa.ed.gov, is the gateway for receiving federal student aid, with much of it awarded on a firstcome, first-serve basis.

Thanks to changes several years ago in the filing process, families no longer have to wait until filing their income taxes af-

ter Jan. 1 in order to submit the FAFSA. They can base their income numbers on the prior year’s tax return, which gives colleges more time to determine financial aid packages and families more time to evaluate them and make college choices.

Sallie Mae said the “slow adoption� of early FAFSA filing reflected a gap in how families plan to pay for college. The survey also noted other problems, including the lack of research regarding loan repayment at the time students borrow.

While the study found that 75 percent of families completed the FAFSA at some point in 2017-2018, that still left a significant number who didn’t file.

Why didn’t they submit the forms?

Nearly half believed they wouldn’t qualify for financial aid. About 15 percent said they didn’t know about the FAFSA, 13 percent missed the filing deadline, 8 percent said the forms were too complicated, and 6 percent said they ran out of time.

Assuming you won’t be eligible for money is a common mistake. The reality is that even higher income families are eligible. Moreover, many colleges use the

FAFSA as a benchmark for awarding scholarships and grants.

Contrast those answers with the reasons families cited for wanting to complete the FAFSA early. Nearly one-third believed that early filing would increase their chances of getting aid, while the secondmost-cited reason was wanting to get the paperwork done and crossed off the list.

Other FAFSA findings from the Sallie Mae/Ipsos survey: „„ Middle-income families are more likely to file the application than either low-income or high-income families. „„ Hispanic families are slightly less likely to file the FAFSA than white or black families. „„ Families living in the Midwest are slightly more likely to file compared with those in the Northeast, West, and South.

If you have questions about the FAFSA, there are plenty of online resources available at sites such as SallieMae.com, Nerdwallet.com and savingforcollege.com. Finally, take advantage of any community programs geared to helping families fill out the financial aid forms.

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Scams that often snare college students STEVE ROSEN

Security number are all red flags.

Delete. Delete. Delete.

How many times has that voice gone off in your head after a suspicious-looking email landed in your inbox?

Typically, the email includes a demand to cover a bill or seeks personal information to resolve a technology problem with your computer.

While your knee-jerk reaction is to delete the file immediately or hang up the phone, do your kids have the same instincts?

College-age kids are prime targets for many scam artists. Yes, they’re computer savvy, but they are on their own, perhaps for the first time, have disposable income and have little experience in dealing with financial ruses or phishing expeditions seeking personal information.

Here are a few scams making the rounds lately that could pose

Roommate housing scam: The fall semester is about to get under way and some students still looking for roommates at off-campus housing post a notice.

Then comes the reply from an interested renter who lives out of the area, along with a fake check for more than the necessary deposit, according to a scam alert issued by affordablecollegesonline. org. The scammer will ask for the difference to be returned, which an unsuspecting student will take from his or her checking account.

As the website suggests, the warning signs on this type of scam include any request to send money, claims of living out of the area and refusing other forms of face-toface communications, including video chats.

Tribune Content Agency‌

troubles for your kids if they let their guard down: Phishing expedition: This scammer left so many red flags that I couldn’t believe the young collegeage student who forwarded it to me asked if she should “respond to it, or what!”

The pitch, in the scammer’s own words: “Hi there. I’m contacting you early to inform you of the ongoing investigation concerning

your Social Security number and the financial institutions you had when you entered a legal contract with one of our clients.

“At this time our client is looking to file civil charges for not holding your end of this agreement...this matter is very sensitive so I do look forward to speaking with you or your legal counsel.”

Poor grammar, choppy sentences, threats of taking immediate action, the mention of your Social

The tuition scam: A college student gets an email or takes a phone call from a supposed school adminis-

trator who claims tuition is late and as a result he or she will be dropped from classes.

Hang up and call the school immediately and explain the situation to make sure your tuition bill is current. No legitimate school will make threats and demand payment over the phone or online.

Tech support scams: Microsoft said it received 153,000 complaints from customers about tech support workers masquerading as company employees. It said 15 percent lost money, from $200 to $400, after the bogus workers installed computer applications designed to capture personal information.

If you’ve been victimized, Microsoft recommends uninstalling any applications that were added, changing passwords, scanning files with antivirus protection and calling your bank to reverse any charges from these “services.”

Delete. Delete. Delete.

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March 2019

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WHERE TO APPLY? Advice for ‘Ivy Ivy’ and ‘Larry Local’

LEE SHULMAN BIERER

The Charlotte Observer

With more than 4,000 colleges in the United States, deciding where to apply can be a daunting task. Most high school juniors are starting to ask themselves questions about distance from home, academic majors, importance of athletic teams, dominance of Greek life and, of course, the total cost of attendance and the potential return on investment.

Here are two fictitious scenarios.

Ivy Ivy

We all know Ivy. She was groomed in the womb. She and her parents have been diligent about tracking her every academic and extracurricular achievement since preschool. She feels she is open-minded since she’s willing to consider Harvard, Yale or Princeton. She just can’t see herself going anywhere else.

Unfortunately, students like Ivy who have narrowed their list to only “dream

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schools” have blinders on. Statistics from college admissions offices state that roughly 80 percent to 85 percent of applicants at almost all colleges, even the nation’s most prestigious ones, are totally equipped to be admitted.

That means more than 80 percent of applicants meet or exceed the average SAT scores and the GPAs posted by the previously admitted class. For this reason alone, the subjective criteria of extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, athletics, jobs and internships are often critical factors.

What should Ivy do? She needs to fill out her list with “target” and “sure-thing” colleges. She and her parents need to get beyond their prestige panic and identify colleges that are the right fit. Common wisdom is to have at least six to eight colleges on the final list, including:  Two sure-thing schools.  Two or three target schools where

you’re solidly in their range.  Two or three reach schools that you’d love to attend, or schools that accept less than 20 percent of applicants.

Larry Local

Larry had never given the college selection process much thought until now. He was always assuming he’d go to a college close to home and “it will all work out.”

His grades have been strong. His parents are beginning to get nervous because they haven’t visited any colleges, don’t know what the requirements are and aren’t sure if he’s taken the right tests.

In the spring of his junior year, he took a class in marine biology, worked closely with his teacher and really enjoyed the subject. He contacted the local science museum and is working there after school and loving it. None of his state university campuses offer marine biology as a major.

What should Larry do? Larry is lucky.

Having an idea of what you’d like to study

narrows the search. Being “undecided” is completely fine. It just means that your search should focus on colleges with an array of liberal arts opportunities. Be sure to understand that liberal arts opportunities do not necessarily equate with “big” universities. Small and medium-size private colleges and public universities have impressive offerings.

Larry and his parents should sit down with a college guidebook and discuss their wishes and expectations. They should research colleges with strong marine biology departments. If any of the colleges are public, they should investigate the possibility of receiving in-state tuition, since their state doesn’t offer that specific major.

Lee Shulman Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte, N.C. Visit her website College Admissions Strategies.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Send your child off to college with

PEACE OF MIND STEVE ROSEN

Tribune Content Agency‌

It’s fun to shop for hot dog cookers, mini-fridges and sheets for a dorm bed as you prepare to send a child off to college.

But those purchases can wait.

Instead, move insurance coverage issues to the top of your to-do list and ensure your freshman is protected in case of a trip to the emergency room, the car is involved in a fender-bender or the expensive laptop disappears from the unlocked dorm room.

I asked several personal finance experts what their advice would be on health-care insurance, auto insurance and whether a rental policy might be needed to cover possessions. Also, protection against identity theft should be part of the conversation.

Here are their thoughts: Health-care coverage: Most schools require full-time students to have health insurance. Will you carry your child on your employer-provided plan? Are you considering an individual policy for your child? Have you compared coverage with the school’s insurance plan, which if selected, is typically added to the tuition bill?

If you have an employer-provided plan, experts recommend keeping your child on it. But if you think you can save money by removing a child from the family plan and placing him or her on an individual plan, such as what the school is offering, consider all the out-of-pocket costs the change could entail. Those include drug coverage, co-pays, in network and out-ofnetwork providers and deductibles.

Behind the wheel: Alert your agent if your teen is going away to college this fall and will have a car on campus. You could face a premium increase if your student will be living in a big city where accident rates are higher. But you might get a break if the college is in a rural area.

Experts say it is cheaper to keep your child on your policy rather than buying an individual policy.

In addition, tell your agent if your child will be going to school more than 100 miles from home and won’t have a car. You can shave a few dollars off your premium and still have coverage when he or she comes home to visit.

Don’t overlook the good student discount, and remind your student that the discount will disappear if grades slide.

Protect your stuff: Contact your insurance company and ask if your child’s dorm room possessions will be covered on your homeowner’s policy in the event of theft or property damage.

Or is a rental policy the way to go? Many college students these days bring thousands of dollars’ worth of personal items to school, including the laptop, a smartphone, a bicycle, television and other electronics.

Your homeowner’s policy is still likely to provide the best protection, but your premium could be impacted in the event of a claim, such as the theft of a high-end bike. Also, some policies limit coverage for belongings that are away from the policyholder’s home.

If your student will be living off campus, a separate rental policy might be the better option. Ask your agent to give you quotes for replacement cost or the less costly actual cash value, which is the value of the property at the time of your claim.

Perhaps a better solution: Limit the amount of valuable stuff your child takes to school.

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Identity theft: I sent all three of my kids to college with a shredder so they wouldn’t leave bank statements or any other sensitive papers right out in the open. Most dorm rooms also come with small safes.

March 2019

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You applied early and were deferred.

LEE SHULMAN BIERER

W

NOW N OW WHAT? WHAT?

The Charlotte Observer

hen students apply to college via Early Decision-ED (binding) or Early ActionEA (non-binding) programs, there are earlier deadlines and earlier notifications. Most students expect one of two outcomes: acceptance or rejection. Some students are surprised and confused when they receive a letter notifying them that they’ve been deferred.

Being deferred means that the college or university wants to compare your application to the other students applying regular decision. But being deferred means different things in different programs and at different schools.

“The hard truth is that if you applied early decision and were deferred, for most of you, unfortunately, the process is essentially over,” said Christoph Guttentag, dean of undergraduate admission at Duke University. “Take a look at the defer letter. Does it say what the admit percentage is for defers?

If it does, take that number seriously. Keep that list of other colleges you’ve applied to close to your heart, because the odds say you’re going to be choosing from among one of them.”

A deferral from an Early Action program, however, represents a greater chance for an optimistic ending. Many colleges with EA programs defer a majority of their applicants, except the obvious acceptances and rejections. In that case, being deferred means that you still have a reasonable shot and there are things that you can do that might increase your odds.

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What can you do?

Let them know you care. Make sure you respond to the deferral, either by following the instructions on the letter or by contacting your local admissions representative via email. It’s important to be judicious about your contact, though. Don’t be a pest, and don’t send superfluous information or gifts.

Communicate new, meaningful information. If, since you submitted your application, you’ve had a new leadership role, improved test scores, an award, an honor or scholarship, or performed research or had an internship, this is exactly what you should be sharing with the admissions office.

Send a new letter of recommendation. If you have a new teacher this year who can write about your exceptional performance, ask him or her to address the specifics of why you’d be a good fit for that school.

Most important ...

Have a backup plan. Make sure you have some solid safety schools on your list and confirm that all your materials have safely arrived at each school (transcripts, application, test scores, letters of recommendation).

One commenter on the New York Times’ “The Choice” blog wrote, “To paraphrase what my grandfather used to say, “Colleges are like streetcars. There’ll be another one along in a few minutes.”

Deferral vs. rejection

Being deferred is not the same as being rejected. It may feel that way for students, but this year, with a record number of early applications, there has also been a record number of deferrals.

A student who applies through early action or early decision is deferred when a college determines that the student has potential, but the admissions office wants to see first-semester senior grades.

So, being deferred gives a student a second chance to impress the admissions office. So how should a student respond to a deferral?

What to do

 Visit the college. Even if you have already visited, a follow-up visit where you sit in on a class and/or meet with someone from admissions can set you apart from other applicants.  Contact your admissions representative. Find out which person in the admissions office handles your geographic territory. Take the opportunity to introduce yourself via email and ask that person if they can share any thoughts on how you could improve your application. Listen to what they say — don’t argue or complain. It is important to be upbeat and leave a positive impression.  Write a letter. Send it to the director of admissions and your admissions representative. Focus on your strongest attributes and how you will be able to contribute to the college community.  Demonstrate your interest and your commitment. If you are 100 percent sure that if you are accepted you will attend, say so.  Talk about college fit. Explain why the college is a good fit for you and why you are a good fit for the college. Use the letter to update the admissions office on any new information such as leadership roles, awards,

scholarships, etc.  Send your midyear transcript. Most colleges will specifically request that you send your seventh-semester grades. Follow instructions to the letter and get it done quickly.

What not to do

 Don’t be bitter. Trust me: They know you’re upset, but you’ll serve yourself better in the end if you don’t come across as angry or depressed.  Don’t sound desperate. Don’t make grand overtures about coming to visit the campus again, meeting or interviewing with staff members  Don’t request multiple unsolicited letters of recommendation.  Don’t tell them that you’ll do “anything” to be accepted.  Don’t whine and complain to the admissions office that you deserve to be accepted.  Don’t send volumes of e-mails, snail mail or packages hoping to change their minds.  Don’t accuse the admissions office of making a mistake in their decision.  Don’t compare your SAT scores and GPA with someone else’s who was accepted.  Don’t boast about small accomplishments. It is not really worth it to share that your SAT score went up 10 points.

Lee Shulman Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte, N.C. Visit her website College Admissions Strategies.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Student athletes need to plan early for college You’ve probably seen the headlines about eighth-graders who can’t drive yet and haven’t taken algebra being recruited to play college sports. Both sides of this equation sound a little crazy to me. The idea of a college or university betting its future on an adolescent whose hormones may or may not have kicked in seems a little risky. And young teens deciding where they are going to college five years down the road? Really?

But this is happening — granted, not too often, but the athletic recruitment calendar is skewing earlier and earlier.

High school athletes interested in playing in college need to understand some basic principles.

Visits are specifically defined as “official” and “unofficial.” Official visits are paid for by the institution. According to NCAA rules and regulations, these are not allowed before a prospective student-athlete becomes a senior in high school. It’s also important to note that student-athletes are limited to one “official” visit per institution and a total of five overall. The rules also state that the visit cannot last more than 48 hours, and that the student must already have registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, and have had

their test scores and high school transcripts sent to the college or university.

An unofficial visit is when a student-athlete and any accompanying family members choose to visit a college or university and are not reimbursed by the institution. Prospective student-athletes are allowed to make as many of these visits as they like during their sophomore, junior and senior years. A typical “unofficial” visit might include a tour of the campus and meetings with coaches and with other student-athletes. Athletic departments may choose to arrange interviews

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Lee Shulman Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte, N.C. Visit her website College Admissions Strategies.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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with the admissions office as well.

Even if no colleges are showing you the love, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be proactive in your pursuit of playing your sport in college. Here is a basic athletic recruitment timeline.

During your junior year: Compose and revise your college list at the beginning of the year. It’s important to remember that Division 3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships, so if you’re thinking about being recruited for the financial incentives, prepare your list accordingly.

Research the performance of your sport at each college or university you’d like to consider. Sports such as swimming and track are time-based, and it’s easy to get a solid grasp on how competitive you’d be at each school. Team sports such as basketball, football, soccer and lacrosse are much more nuanced. Contact coaches at each school before Thanksgiving. Ask your coach to contact each of the coaches as well.

Make “unofficial” visits.

Prepare and send a sports/academic/ extracurricular resume.

Prepare and send a “highlights” video to each coach.

Follow up with the coach, providing your stats, schedules, etc.

Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse in May. Send your final junior year transcript.

Participate in camps and showcases during the summer.

Make “official” visits as a senior.

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